tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post1103808291286478144..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Outpatient centers better solution than jails for competency restorationGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-36056535728003642952008-11-06T12:43:00.000-06:002008-11-06T12:43:00.000-06:00I find it a little strange that Mr. Anonymous Reti...I find it a little strange that Mr. Anonymous Retired 2004 is admonishing me for seeking help with the Galveston Police Brutality and Corruption problem.<BR/><BR/>I'm writing on this forum because I know most of the readers here actually care.<BR/><BR/>I'm writing anonymously because I'm afraid of the Galveston Police Department as they have beaten up and falsely arrested those who speak out, including newspaper photographers who photograph their violence.<BR/><BR/>I believe the situation in Galveston can be related to any post on this blog in a meaningful way.<BR/><BR/>WE NEED HELP IN GALVESTON. PLEASE TELL YOUR COLLEAGUES IN CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-66542826812979131852008-11-06T12:14:00.000-06:002008-11-06T12:14:00.000-06:00The people of Galveston are suffering under a brut...The people of Galveston are suffering under a brutal and corrupt police force and desperately need the help of anyone involved in civil rights advocacy. <BR/><BR/>Please do something, anyone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-20730267068346295702008-11-03T09:48:00.000-06:002008-11-03T09:48:00.000-06:00FYI- Although Harris County has been given credit ...FYI- Although Harris County has been given credit as the first OCR facility, the local mental health authority in Smith, Wood, Rains, Henderson, and Van Zandt Counties (Andrews Center) has been offering outpatient competency restoration for quite a while (without additional funding). Although the additional funding would be nice, it comes with a heavy portion going towards administration and away from direct services. We have saved the taxpayers approx. $450,000 in hospital bed days through our competency programs in the last fiscal year, again, with no additional funding. The standardization of treatment across the state with the RDM and TRAG has diverted dollars from treatment to oversight. Standardization is optimal, but DSHS is going a little overboard. Most caseworkers in the local centers are being turned into utilization managers and not service coordinators. <BR/>In our area, another option that has saved taxpayers is our pre-competency services. With this we offer competency restoration programs to begin at the initial suspician of competency issues, even prior to their competency exam. It is a voluntary program and can occur on an outpatient basis and in the jail setting. Jail is not the best setting for therapeutic treatment. But, for many reasons, mental health pr bonds are not being utilized. Advocacy Inc. litigation has caused a paradoxical fear in some clinicians in treating the mentally ill in the jail. Just because a person is incarcerated, does not mean we should stop serving their mh needs, especially if our goal is to keep them competent! Yes, outpatient centers are better than jails for competency restoration, but that title implies that those unlucky enough not to get released should not be treated while in jail.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-3314615703326952822008-11-03T07:59:00.000-06:002008-11-03T07:59:00.000-06:00"Outpatient centers better solution than jails for..."Outpatient centers better solution than jails for competency restoration" is the topic.<BR/><BR/>I just realized I was attempting to make a point with one of them. My bad!<BR/><BR/>Retired 2004Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-85090859916905148282008-11-02T12:59:00.000-06:002008-11-02T12:59:00.000-06:00So the Galveston arrest taking into account touris...So the Galveston arrest taking into account tourist numbers is nearly 5 times that of NYC when taking into account tourists and commuters<BR/><BR/>Galveston: 11.2% arrest rate<BR/>NYC: 2.5% arrest rate <BR/><BR/>the tourist number I got for Galveston counts cars, so it includes any commutersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-12752582072890760432008-11-02T12:55:00.000-06:002008-11-02T12:55:00.000-06:00Now what happens to NYC stats (to compare with Gal...Now what happens to NYC stats (to compare with Galveston) if we factor in tourists and commuters?<BR/><BR/>NYC has approximately 46,000,000 visitors staying in hotel rooms each year. (source NYC tourism) <BR/><BR/>Divide by 365 and we get an extra population of 127,000 per day. Additionally, 3.8 million people per day commute to the borough of Manhattan.<BR/><BR/>Sum these and we get 3,927,000 more people daily than are included in the census population numbers<BR/><BR/>We'll add this number to our NYC U.S. census population number of 8,214,426 to get the total daily population of<BR/>12,141,497 people <BR/><BR/>Now we'll divide the total number of arrests in NYC annually by the total daily population<BR/><BR/>314,424 divided by 12,141,497 equals .025 or an arrest rate of 2.5 percent per capita of daily populationAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-78253437673696421712008-11-02T12:43:00.000-06:002008-11-02T12:43:00.000-06:00CORRECTION ON GALVESTON RAPE STATSForgive me, I me...CORRECTION ON GALVESTON RAPE STATS<BR/><BR/>Forgive me, I meant 400 reports of rape, not arrests. So the rape conviction rate is 1.25% of reported rapesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1432326868302209922008-11-02T12:41:00.000-06:002008-11-02T12:41:00.000-06:00Accounting for tourism statsLet's take Galvest...Accounting for tourism stats<BR/><BR/>Let's take Galveston's average number of tourists of 4.1 million (generally acknowledged by islanders to be a significant overestimate) and divide it by 365 - to get how much greater the population is due to tourists on a daily basis<BR/><BR/>4,100,000 divided by 365 equals 11,232 - so taking into account the tourist population we have an extra 11,232 people on the island daily <BR/><BR/>Now let's add that number 11,232 to number of Galveston residents, for a total of 68,233<BR/><BR/>Now we'll divide the number of arrests annually, 8000, by our new population & tourists number of 68,233 to get the arrest rate per capita<BR/><BR/>We get .12 so even factoring in the tourist numbers, Galveston has an arrest rate of 12%<BR/><BR/>Compared to a national urban average arrest rate of 5%Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-49940212928410119982008-11-02T12:15:00.000-06:002008-11-02T12:15:00.000-06:00Let's compare Galveston stats to New York City's s...Let's compare Galveston stats to New York City's stats<BR/>In NYC in 2007 the total number of arrests (felony and misdemeanor) was 314,484 source: http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/crimnet/ojsa/dispos/nyc.htm<BR/><BR/>Last year in Galveston the total number of arrests was approximately 8,000<BR/><BR/>The population of New York City in 2006, according to the Census Bureau, was 8,214,426.<BR/>Galveston's population is 57,000.<BR/><BR/>To get the arrests per capita divide the total number of arrests by the population: <BR/><BR/>For Galveston: 8000 divided by 57,000 equals .140, a 14% per capita arrest rate<BR/><BR/>For NYC: 314,484 divided by 8,214,426 equals .038, a 3.8% percent per capita arrest rate<BR/><BR/>NYC is the safest big city in the world, so we can't say that it's dangerous because they don't arrest enough people<BR/><BR/>Also, NYC has a huge tourist population, as well as commuter populationAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-51316970741769237082008-11-02T11:40:00.000-06:002008-11-02T11:40:00.000-06:00Incidentally the rape conviction rate in Galveston...Incidentally the rape conviction rate in Galveston County is only 1.25 percent (yes, you read that correctly). 400 arrests, 5 convictions<BR/>So even though there's a frenzy of brutal arrests, women are not adequately protected.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-47688081490287257372008-11-02T11:32:00.000-06:002008-11-02T11:32:00.000-06:00I was comparing the stats of Galveston arrests per...I was comparing the stats of Galveston arrests per capita to arrests per capita in the U.S. urban population. That's places like Detroit, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago .... I'm sure all of these cities have their population "swell" at a greater percentage than Galveston. For example <BR/><BR/>Additionally, they have sometimes millions of commuters swelling their population on a daily basis - but this is not included in the national arrests per capita data.<BR/><BR/><BR/>I am confident that with accurate statistical analysis (rather than "population swells" statements) the arrest rate would not change much.<BR/><BR/>I implore you, please help the citizens of Galveston who are suffering under a corrupt and brutal police force.<BR/><BR/>The truth is tourists are rarely arrested. Even the wedding reception beat down was perpetrated mostly on islanders.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-16446963752331820182008-11-02T08:56:00.000-06:002008-11-02T08:56:00.000-06:00I'd have to check on November 17th. Hospital Galv...I'd have to check on November 17th. Hospital Galveston certainly won't be fully open due to the food situation. I don't know how many inpatients the mess tent is capable of handling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-88113736822104264102008-11-02T06:33:00.000-06:002008-11-02T06:33:00.000-06:00Warped stats: The Galveston population swells to t...Warped stats: The Galveston population swells to thousands more than 57,000; These folks are called tourists. The Galveston PD and the Galveston County SO could make many more arrests but that might turn off those foolish enough to want to visit the island.<BR/>Second comment: Another blog contributor noted that TDCJ Hospital, Galveston, would be re-opening the 17th of November. I couldn't confirm that opening.<BR/><BR/>Retired 2004Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-60947115902262351112008-11-01T10:29:00.000-05:002008-11-01T10:29:00.000-05:00Good morning!You wanted info about UTMB and prison...Good morning!<BR/><BR/>You wanted info about UTMB and prison healthcare. The TDCJ hospital should be open for a few beds, soon. UTMB lacks catering facilities, so that's the major block right now. TDCJ patients requiring inpatient care are getting it, and UTMB is also transferring employees (who want to) from the campus hospital to positions in correctional health. <BR/><BR/>As to the comments about the Galveston PD? They scare the crap out of me, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-77611256993597411042008-11-01T09:16:00.000-05:002008-11-01T09:16:00.000-05:00The Galveston arrest rate is nearly three times th...The Galveston arrest rate is nearly three times the national average for urban areas. Acording to national statistics, in 2003 the nationawide arrest rate for urban areas was 5.109.<BR/><BR/>Galveston PD data shows between 7000 and 8000 arrests per year.<BR/><BR/>Galveston population if 57,000 (pre-Ike)<BR/><BR/>To get the percentage rate take 7500 for number of arrests (between 7000 and 8000) and divide by population of 57000.<BR/><BR/>Galveston's arrest rate is thus:<BR/>13.14%<BR/><BR/>Please help us, anybodyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-43490212613410147762008-11-01T08:41:00.000-05:002008-11-01T08:41:00.000-05:00On October 11, 2008 police beat up and arrested 11...On October 11, 2008 police beat up and arrested 11 people including Brandon Backe and the FEMA director of operations for Galveston. The instigator was an off duty police officer who wanted someone to throw away their plastic drink cup. (I can't help but think he was jealous of Brandon Backe and that had something to do with it). This event occured at the San Luis Hotel pool bar, H20. The hotel did not call the poice - everything was instigated by an Officer Sanderson.<BR/><BR/>The FEMA official was arrested after he made a phone call asking for help in a police brutality incident.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=ad6d2104377fa26c" REL="nofollow">After<BR/>reporting police brutality, FEMA executive arrested</A><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=5fe75d7f925961e1" REL="nofollow">Witnesses<BR/>observed excessive force</A><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=8b34793451264955" REL="nofollow">Cops shoot<BR/> at unarmed man, say he had gun, no gun found, he is jailed for evading arrest</A><BR/><BR/>Nothing seems to be done about. I believe it's an emergency situation, and implore anyone who can to help.<BR/><BR/>Many thanks,<BR/><BR/>A scared GalvestonianAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-71108413018451386082008-11-01T08:28:00.000-05:002008-11-01T08:28:00.000-05:00I implore anyone involved in civil rights advocacy...I implore anyone involved in civil rights advocacy, et cetera who is reading this excellent blog to help stop these terrible civil rights abuses.<BR/><BR/>The situation is really dire. Although only 50 miles from Houston Galveston is in a time warp and procedures there seem to have come from the pre-Civil Rights era.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=fd8643cadae47b01ca9a98f9b5830fd0" REL="nofollow">White<BR/> officer arrest black sheriff dept employee for interference in the duties<BR/>of a police officer</A><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=6ae72551ce73611cca9a98f9b5830fd0" REL="nofollow">Black<BR/> deputy acquitted at trial for interfering in the duties of a white police<BR/>officer</A><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Here are a few more examples. The officer from the previous post had another questionable arrest:Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-45116701270929667742008-11-01T08:18:00.000-05:002008-11-01T08:18:00.000-05:00The citizens of Galveston are suffering under a br...The citizens of Galveston are suffering under a brutal and corrupt police force. The Galveston Police Department makes approximately 8000 arrests a year, for a population of 57,000 (plus some tourists).<BR/><BR/>Harmful officers are retained and continue their patterns of abuse.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=8b34793451264955" REL="nofollow">Cops shoot<BR/>at unarmed man, jail him for felony evadin arrest</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com